Fluid control applicator



May 12, 1942.

E. L. HoLLENBEcK 2,282,406 FLUID CONTROL APPLICATOR l Filed March l, 1940 mul' . zo fi,

INEI

- JNVENTOR rncs' a6. Holl en e ATTORNEY 5.

Patented May 12, 1942 UNITED NT OFFICE 17 Claims.

My invention is an improved fluid control for applicators.

The fundamental basic concept consists in the provision of a device of this'character in which the salient movable components are resilient, thus insuring ease and positiveness of operation, and extreme durability. Other improvements reside in the incorporation of a novel type of valve; a unique means for actuating the valve and feeding the fluid to the spreader; a spreader which thoroughly diffuses and works in the fluid with respect to the surface of the article under treatment; a sleeve which serves the dual function of regulating and closing the'valve; and a nipple connection which is interchangeable with different types of reservoirs.

Essentially, the invention -involves a resilient nipple having an annular flange which is adapted as a connection for either 'of two dissimilar reservoirs, the body of the nipple including a resilient valve, a passage and a pair of auxiliary protuberances in combination with a spreader-'also resilient-and a sleeve for lcontrolling the valve. The spreader is adapted to be manually oscillated in such manner as to -actuate the valve and permit the ow of fluid through said passage to the applicating extremity of the spreader.

One form of the invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in whichk Fig. l is a perspective view' of a specially'designed reservoir with the fluid control a'ssembl7 attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the fluid control assembly secured to a conventional type of reservoir, which latter is illustrated as being partly the reference character Ill-see particularly Figs. 1 and 3. As an alternative form of Vreservoir, the conventional type with a anged neck I5ymay be employed-note Figs. 2, 4, v8 and 9. And in either instance the novel construction of the base of the control assembly renders the attachment interchangeable, as will presently be explained in greater detail.

More specifically the iiuid control assembly I4 comprises the following elements: a valve component IB, a spreader Il, and afeed regulator I8.

As observed in Fig."1,y the valve component consists, firstly, of a base in the form of an elastic nipple I9 with a recess 2i) and an annular flange 2| extending laterally in opposite directions-outwardly beyond the .periphery of the nipple body 22 .and inwardly beyond the internal diameter of recess 2l-this construction resulting in the formation yof a relatively short connecting wall 23 between. the body and the iiange. The nipple is interchangeable with different types of reservoirs. In Fig. 3for example, the base of flange 2| is adapted to rest on the top edge of neck II and the outer portion of the flange engaged by the gland I3, while in Fig. 4, recess 2t, wall 23 and the inner portion of the flange completely envelop and tightly hug neck I5 of a distinctly differenttype of reservoir.

In other respects the valve component involves essentially a valve 24-also resilient-and including a pair of opposed seats 25-26, which are formed by splitting the outer extremity of a Vertical extension 21. This extension is integral with the nipple I9, and moreover, is provided with a ymedial passage 28 which continues through the nipple and at its open end estab- Figs. 8 and 9 are Vertical sections of the outer extremity of the assembly ininverted positions showing different adjustments of the valve,l'and the spreader in the act of applying uid.

In the present embodiment of the invention, il) indicates a specially constructed reservoir of rather ornate design with the neck II thereof externally threaded at l2 to receive the gland I3 which is designed to couple. the reservoir and the fluid control assembly-denoted generally by lishes communication with the reservoir. Carried by outer opposite sides of extension 21 and projecting well beyondA its confines are parallel companion protuberances or. auxiliary feeders 29,-30. The confronting surfaces 3l of the pro- .tuberances are at, and their outer surfaces are llongitudinally,channelled to augment their flexibility-the channelling reaching down below the ledge 32 of the nipple body in line with the point ing rounded at 36, and said strip 35 manifestly conforming therewith-see Fig. 6. The inner extremity of spreader l1 is devised to fit snugly between protuberances 29-3Ul, the bifurcated extremity 34 embracing extension 21 to present a quasi lap-joint, and the assembly is completed by permanently fixing the inner ends of the bifurcations 31 to the corresponding countersunk portions 38 upon diametrically opposite sides of the upper portion ofthe nipple body; and by the addition of a feed regulator I8 in the nature of a sleeve or equivalent device for the purpose of frictionally engaging protuberances 29--30.

Normally the various components of the fluid control assembly are relatively disposed, as exhibited in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive,1that is, 'the opposing seats -26 of valve 24 Aaredmain.- tained in close contact with each othersimply expressed, the valve is closed. And tliexvalve is so held as long as sleeve i8 remainsV at the limit of its forward movement. f Now when it is desired touse the device',s1eevejl8is slid down- Wardly a suitable. distancefover protuberances 251-30, as illustrated in Fig. 8 vand Fig. 9the precise adjustment of the sleeve beingdependent upon the characteristics of the fluid in thereservoir and the rate of flow best suited for the particular job at hand. In any event, employing the reservoir as a handle, thespreader component is Worked back and forth over a given surface in a fashionsimilar to the conventional method of using a paint brush. Upon each oscillation of the spreader, valve 24 is opened so as to permit a quantityof the fluid from the reservoir to be. uniformly fed upon the outer end of the spreader between bifurcations 31-first on one side and then on the other'side of the body of the spreader-from whence it flows to the fuzzystrip 35 and ultimately'is` diffused on the article. Upon completion of the particular-job, sleeve I8 is returned to its normal position so as to effectively seal the contents in the reservoir. "'V'l During the actual operation of the deviceagain referring to Figs. 8 and 9--the inner faces of the outer extremities of protuberances 29-30 serve as floating fulcrums for the adjacent extremity of the spreader.

I claim: Y

l. A fluid control assembly comprising a body having a passage therein, .a resilient valve at thev outer terminal of said passage, said valve being flanked by resilient auxiliary feeders, and a spreader operatively associated with the valve.

2. A fluid control assembly composed of resilient material, and comprising a body having a passage therein, an integral valve at the outer end of said passage, an integral protuberance carried by opposite sides of said valve, and a spreader inoperative relation to said valve.

3; A fluid controlassembly comprising a resilient body having a passage therein, a valve for saidY passage, protuberances carried vby said valve, a spreader disposed fbetvvee'n said protuberances in operative relation to 4said valve, and a feed regulator engageable with' vth'e'p'rotuberances.

4. A iluid control assembly comprising a body` having a passage therein, an elastic valve for said passage, a pair of elastic protuberances upon opposite sides of said valve, and an elastic spreader contiguous said valve and intermediate said protuberances. f

5.V A fluid controlassembly 'comprising a body having a passage therein, an elastic valve for said passage, a pair of elastic protuberances upon opposite sides of said valve, an elastic spreader contiguous said valve and intermediate said protuberances and a feed regulator engageable with said protuberances.

6. A fluid control assembly comprising a body provided with a passage, a valve for said passage, protuberances carried by said valve, and a spreader operatively associated with the valve, said spreader having its outer extremity equipped with a fuzzy surface.

'7. A fluid control assembly comprising a nipple having a passage therein, a resilient valve atthe outer terminal of said passage, said valve being flanked by resilient auxiliary feeders, and aspreader operatively associated with the valve, said feeders having channels therein to increase the flexibility thereof.

8.1A fluid control assembly comprising a body havinga passage therein, a resilient valve for said passage, said valve being flanked by resilient auxiliary feeders, and a spreader operatively associated Withfthe fvalve, said feeders and said body'A being channeIled.

.9..The combination with an open ended reservoir of a fluid control assembly comprising a body carried by the open end of the reservoir and having a passage therein, an elastic valve at the outer terminal of said passage, elastic protuberances upon the sides of said valve, and an elastic spreader contiguous said valve and intermediate said protuberances.

l0. The combination with an open ended reservoir of a fluid control assembly comprising a body carried by the open end of the reservoir and having a passage therein, an elastic valve at the outer terminal of said passage, elastic protuberances upon the sides of said valve, an elastic'spreader Vcontiguous said valve and said protuberances, and a feed regulator engageable Withv said protuberances.

11. The combination With an open ended reservoir of a fluid control assembly comprising a body carried by the open end of said reservoir and having a passage therein, an elastic valve at the outer terminal of said passage, said valve having elastic protuberances upon the sides thereof, and an elastic oscillating spreader contiguous said valve and said protuberances, said protuberances designed tov serve as fulcrums for the spreader.

l2. A fluid control assembly, comprising a body having a passage therein for fluid, a resilient valve for controlling the discharge of lluid from said passage, a resilient feeder flanking said valve, and a spreader flanking and projecting beyond said feeder so as to operate said valve through actuation of said feeder.

13. A fluid control assembly, comprising a body having a passage therein for fluid, a resilient valve for controlling the discharge of fluid from said passage, a resilient feeder flanking said valve, a spreader flanking and projecting beyond said feeder so as to operate said valve through actuation of said feeder, and a regulator for and in operative relation to said feeder.

14. A fluid control assembly, comprising an elastic body` a passage in said body, an elastic valve for said passage which is normally closed, an oscillatable spreader secured to and projecting from said body, and elastic elements on the body and flanking said spreader so that according as said spreader is oscillated in one direction or the other one ofV said elements or the other will be flexed to open said valve.

15. A fluid control assembly, comprising an elastic body, a passage in said body, an elastic valve for said passage which is normally closed, an oscillatable spreader secured to and projecting Ifrom said body, elastic elements on the body and 5 said extension and anking said spreader, said spreader projecting beyond said feeders so that when said spreader is flexed in one direction or the other one feeder or the other will be flexed to bend said extension and open said valve and simultaneously space said spreader from said valve to one side or the other.

17. In a Huid control applicator, a body, a passage for fluid in said body, flexible elements carried by said body and normally closing said passage, and a exible spreader between and projecting from said elements, whereby according as said spreader is flexed in one direction or the other one of said elements or the other will be flexed to open said passage.

ERNEST L. HOLLENBECK. 

